Unearthing gems everyone else seems to know about

One of the great things about writing this blog is the opportunity to discover new brands that otherwise might pass you buy.  There are simply too many brands out there for everyone to know about.  As you're probably aware, I am often (very very very often) asked if I would like to review products but it's not often that I say yes. 

The reason I say yes so rarely is so that when I do, it's evident that it's because I truly love the products that I've been asked to look at. 

However there is the odd time that it really does work out in everyone's favour.  You discover a brand that hasn't been on your radar before and wonder why it hasn't. 

You also discover that everyone else seems to know about it.  On chatting to a couple of friends about shoes I was receiving to review - two of them immediately piped up about how they always bought shoes from there and how fab they were and HOW did I not know about it before?

Well it always look just a bit sporty.  And there in lies the issue of there being so many shops on the high street and so many retailer outlets to navigate online.  Brands can get overlooked if the perception is that it's not for you.

The brand I'm talking about today is Geox.  The Italian brand who I now know, much to my mortification, do sell shoes other than the sporty ones.  And really very lovely shoes (and boots and sneakers...) at that.

Why do I think they're sporty?  Partly because that's where my boys get their trainers from (we don't buy from a Geox store so I've never had a chance to see what else was on offer)  And partly because the window of their store, often predominantly has sporty and, dare I say it, sensible looking shoes in the window. 

Well it just goes to show that you can't always judge a book by its cover and you certainly shouldn't rely on preconceptions. 

Because how wrong was I? 

So wrong that I honestly struggled to choose just one pair of shoes and exceptionally cheekily asked if I could also try a pair of flats.  

My main mission was to discover if, as per their marketing about the practical benefits of their shoes, I could find a pair of comfortable heels.  One of my friends swears that once you've bought a pair of heels from there, you will never buy a pair from anywhere else.  Clarks schmarks.  These are the most comfortable heels you can put on your feet according to her and she buys a pair from there every year. 

And it didn't stop with my friends' adulation.  Was chatting to the family about work and lo and behold - the 10yr old and The Husband both piped up with "LOVE geox shoes (mummy loads of my friends have them), why can't we have any".  So back to Geox I trotted and they very very kindly offered a pair to both of them (I didn't have the heart to go back and ask if the two smallest monkeys in the family could have a pair of trainers seeing as I already am fully aware of how great they are.  Darn it!) 

But enough of the small talk - let's see the proof. 

So I will admit that they do have a very wide selection of shoes that are definitely suited to a wide range of people (for a start, my whole family are now Geox fans).  But even within the women's selection, they do pretty much have a shoe for everyone. 

I was all about the heels though and once I'd seen these, there really was no going back.

Unfortunately they've sold out of them in this colourway but to be honest, it was a close call between the black above and the light taupe ones below. 

Ivana Heeled Sandals in light taupe was £120 now £80



Mine arrived last week and I am wore them last Thursday night to a dinner party.  I can honestly say it certainly doesn't feel like you are wearing heels that high.  They really are the acme of comfortable heels.

However it was difficult to choose between the Ivanas and these, the Heritage, which I've since discovered, they make every year but with a twist each season.  Super popular and my friend can vouch for extremely comfortable. (I'm not going say that she's usually fussy with heels... but she's usually fussy with heels.  Very.)

Heritage Heeled Sandals £110 now £77



Or the black again now £77 - you see how hard it was to make the decision?  I could happily have both of those.










Other heels that caught my eye in store were the Lanas. These are definitely slightly lower. With my love of the vertiginous heel, I would categorise these as being of the mid variety and actually perfect to wear on a daily basis.  Ideal for Summer office wear.  These could well have made the cut for me, had I not had a slightly similar pair in the black from Clarks a couple of years ago (which I wear loads - they are definitely timeless).  Plus once I'd set eyes on the Ivanas.....

Lana in light taupe were £110 now £77





Or in the black again now £77 




The other option that I nearly went for and loved were wedges.  They have some amazing wedges that don't feel remotely as high as they look.  

Jaleah Wedges in biscuit were £103 now £73.50








However the story of the Summer for me (and the latter of last Winter if I think about it) has definitely been flats. 

Hold on to your horses now - these are absolutely not going to be for everyone.  But watch this space as these are going to be everywhere come the Autumn I promise.  It's the fringe phenomenon going to the next level.  I thought these would be really cute with a pair of khakis, thin knit jumper, blazer for the now (well not now scorchio now but last week now) and with a military jacket and big scarf for the Autumn.  Marant eat your heart out.  I did try to order these but they're sold out in my size. 

Sara Moccasins - collaboration with Patrick Cox were £140 now £70






Or the Jolanda was £90 now £63  The best thing about their flat sandals is that they don't go up around the ankle unlike most of the gladiator sandals out there.  One of the major bug bears I know lots of people have is that they really don't like ankle straps.  I personally am a fan but even without an ankle strap, for me, these were amazing.